New Delhi: The controversial four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) of Delhi University got its final approval on Thursday after the varsity's Executive Council cleared the proposal, which has evoked criticism from a section of the academia.

The Council meeting was attended by 21 members. Only two members opposed the move by presenting their dissent notes. On Wednesday night, the DU's Academic Council had cleared the proposal with 86 members voting for it while six had opposed the new four-year programme.

"With these approvals, all formal requirements as per the University of Delhi Act, statutes and ordinances have been compiled with and the University is all set to launch the programme," DU Registrar Alka Sharma said.

Teachers and alumni objected to the format

The new structure was in controversy after a section of teachers and alumni objected to the format, with Left leaders including Sitaram Yechury taking the issue to the doorsteps of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Expressing confidence in the new structure, Sharma said, "We know what we are doing, we are fully convinced with it. We are doing it for the betterment of the students, and I am sure someday we will be proved right."

Some professors, however, expressed their disappointment over the ‘hasty manner’ in which the DU passed the courses for their introduction from this academic year.

EC not given enough time to assess it

"I gave dissent note as we have not been given enough time to assess the syllabus. The Executive Council (EC) has no right to make any changes...we can only reject the courses. More time should have been given to formulate the syllabus," EC member Ajay Kumar said. The dissenting EC members also accused the DU administration of not giving them enough time to even go through the agenda prior to the meeting.

"The university should have informed us about the agenda seven days back which they did not do. Not even a day was given to us to deliberate on the amendments made by the Academic Council," Kumar said.

But those expressing satisfaction over the new system said the programme structure has been designed to enhance the employability and entrepreneurial skills of students.

"All the courses and ordinance have been passed in the Executive Council meeting to put a stamp on DU's four- year programme. The programme permits flexibility to students to study the subjects of their choice," EC member Aditya Narain said.

55 courses approved

The Academic and the Executive Councils in their meetings held on May 7-8 and May 9 respectively, approved 55 courses with a majority of 86-6 and 19-2. These courses had earlier been scrutinized by a Standing Committee of the Academic Council.

Amendments to the university ordinances, including changes in nomenclature of degrees and admissions under reserved categories, were also approved.

The four-year programme with multiple degree options will entail a shift from the present 10+2+3 scheme to a four-year graduation with multiple exit points.